Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Aqaba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Aqaba or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Kota Kinabalu, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Aqaba or Kota Kinabalu?
Aqaba
Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu, originally Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah, which is on the northern part of the island of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu is located just between the western side of the island and Tambunan Rafflesia Forest Reserve. Most of Kota Kinabalu's historic buildings were destroyed by bombing during World War II, so the city had to be rebuilt. KK, as it's commonly called, is a compact, but booming town today, with its new shopping centers, seaside condominiums, and bustling marketplaces.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAqaba $127Kota Kinabalu $49
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $127, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is $49. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Aqaba and Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAqaba $59Kota Kinabalu $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAqaba $118Kota Kinabalu $36
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba or Kota Kinabalu? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Aqaba Hotel Prices and Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aqaba $24Kota Kinabalu $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
- Aqaba Airport transfer to Aqaba City: $25
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Aqaba City Or TalaBay: $25
- Private Transfer: Aqaba Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $27
- Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Arava Border: $27
- Snorkeling in The Red Sea With Equipment And Free Transfer: $29
- Private Transfer from Aqaba Cruise Port to Aqaba City Hotels: $36
- Private Transfer from Aqaba Port to King Hussein Airport (AQJ): $36
- Private Transfer from King Hussein Airport (AQJ)to Aqaba Port : $36
- Private Transfer from Aqaba city hotels to Aqaba Cruise Port: $36
- Private Transfer from Aqaba Hotels to Aqaba Cruise Port: $40
- Private Transfer from Aqaba Cruise Port to Aqaba hotels: $40
- Private Transfer from King Hussein Airport (AQJ) to Aqaba Port: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Kota Kinabalu Airport Private Transfer with 1 hour Charter: $12
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $52
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Monsopiad Cultural Village Visit with Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu: $31
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $32
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $28
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $32
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $28
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu and Aqaba change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAqaba $42Kota Kinabalu $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
- Suhaila (connecting through cooking): $50
- Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $64
- 4 hour desert jeep tour with overnight in beduin camp including dinner&breakfast: $85
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight + Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $87
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight in Bedouin Camp & Dinner : $88
- 2 Day Wadi Rum Tour: Traditional Dinner and Starlit Cave Camp: $115
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight + Dinner Under the Stars: $135
- From Wadi Rum Full-Day Private Jeep Tour with Dinner: $169
- From Aqaba to Wadi Rum ,Jeep Tour with Dinner (Half Day): $185
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Private Kinabalu Night Tour with Cultural Show and Dinner: $62
- Kota Kinabalu K2 Fireflies Sunset River Cruise Tour with Dinner: $86
- Half Day Klias Mangrove Wildlife and Fireflies with dinner: $128
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aqaba $54Kota Kinabalu $5.67
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Turgut camp with tour: $15
- 3-Hour Shore Dive or Snorkel Experiences in Aqaba: $30
- Glass-Bottom Boat 2-hours Tour and Coral-Reef Viewing from Aqaba: $30
- Stargazing Adventure in Jordan: $30
- 2 Hour Jeep Tour - Wadi Rum Desert & Canyon: $35
- 2 Hours Morning or Sunset Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $35
- Full Day Private Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum: $36
- Discover Aqaba in Style: A 3-h City Tour by Car with meal: $37
- Walking Tour History ,Culture & Food: $37
- Jeep Tours in Wadi Rum with Bedouin Guide 2,3,4,5 hours | Magic Bedouin Star: $38
- Mosaic Art Experience: $38
- 4-hour sunset tour of desert highlights: $40
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Kota Kinabalu Historical Photo Walking Tour: $37
- Private Half Day Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $38
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $40
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Sunset E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $47
- Private Guided E-Foil Experience in Tanjung Aru Beach: $47
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $54
- Mari-Mari Cultural Village Tour Including Lunch: $55
- Klias Wildlife Safari River Cruise from Kota Kinabalu: $58
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
- Cultural Night Tour From Kota Kinabalu : $64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAqaba $9.07Kota Kinabalu $6.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Kota Kinabalu, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. And not only is Kota Kinabalu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba is in Middle East and Kota Kinabalu is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Kota Kinabalu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kota Kinabalu and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Aqaba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aqaba than you might in Kota Kinabalu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aqaba Expensive? and Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aqaba or Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Aqaba. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba and Kota Kinabalu, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Aqaba or Kota Kinabalu?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Aqaba or Kota Kinabalu in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Aqaba and Kota Kinabalu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Aqaba year-round. Kota Kinabalu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kota Kinabalu receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Aqaba usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Aqaba gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kota Kinabalu this time of the year. In Aqaba, it's very sunny this time of the year. Aqaba usually receives more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during summer. Aqaba gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 205 hours of full sun in the summer.
The heat can be very extreme in Aqaba. In the summer, Aqaba is a little warmer than Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the summer temperatures in Aqaba in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAqaba 33°C (91°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Aqaba or Kota Kinabalu in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Aqaba as well as Kota Kinabalu. Aqaba attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kota Kinabalu throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Kota Kinabalu. Aqaba usually gets less rain in October than Kota Kinabalu. Aqaba gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 336 mm (13.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Aqaba this time of the year. In the autumn, Aqaba often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Aqaba gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 192 hours of full sun.
In October, Aqaba is generally around the same temperature as Kota Kinabalu. Daily temperatures in Aqaba average around 26°C (79°F), and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAqaba 26°C (79°F)Kota Kinabalu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Aqaba or Kota Kinabalu in the Winter?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Aqaba are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Aqaba throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Kota Kinabalu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kota Kinabalu. In January, Aqaba usually receives less rain than Kota Kinabalu. Aqaba gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Aqaba. Aqaba usually receives more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu during winter. Aqaba gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Kota Kinabalu receives 181 hours of full sun in the winter.
Aqaba is much colder than Kota Kinabalu in the winter. The daily temperature in Aqaba averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Kota Kinabalu fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAqaba 14°C (57°F)Kota Kinabalu 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Aqaba or Kota Kinabalu in the Spring?
Both Kota Kinabalu and Aqaba during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Aqaba because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kota Kinabalu year-round.
Kota Kinabalu gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Aqaba usually gets less rain in April than Kota Kinabalu. Aqaba gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Kota Kinabalu receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Kota Kinabalu, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Aqaba. In the spring, Aqaba often gets more sunshine than Kota Kinabalu. Aqaba gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kota Kinabalu receives 237 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Aqaba is cooler than Kota Kinabalu. Typically, the spring temperatures in Aqaba in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Kota Kinabalu averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAqaba 24°C (75°F)Kota Kinabalu 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kota Kinabalu and Aqaba
| Aqaba | Kota Kinabalu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 291 mm (11.5 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Aug | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) |
| Sep | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 285 mm (11.2 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 336 mm (13.2 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 298 mm (11.7 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.